Horizontal Or Nonvertical Axis Tumbler And Centrifuge Patents (Class 68/24)
  • Patent number: 7762109
    Abstract: Front-loading laundry washing machines or the like comprises a cylindrical perforated strip for letting through the water flow, at least one crusher, a rear drum closing disk, and means for joining the disk to the strip in the area of the end of the crusher nearest to the disk. The joining means comprise a rear joining support, a stop opposite the joining support on the other side of the disk, and pressure means which join the stop to the rear joining support, with the disk and part of the end of the crusher lying there between. The stop is concave and its edges are at least in part in contact with the end of the crusher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 27, 2010
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventor: Ismael Garcia Bobed
  • Patent number: 7752872
    Abstract: A loading basket for a washing machine includes a rear wall (8), a front wall (9) and a side wall (7) extending about a longitudinal axis (X), and one or more dragging blades (12) that are arranged on the side wall (7) and projecting to the inside of the basket. The side wall (7) includes a substantially cylindrical and/or truncated cone-shaped wall portion (13) with one or more approximately plane interruption areas (14) extending from a rear area of the side wall (7) close to the rear wall (8) to the vicinity of the front wall (9). The dragging blades (12) are connected to the interruption areas (14).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: Candy S.p.A.
    Inventor: Silvano Fumagalli
  • Patent number: 7752694
    Abstract: A dehydration controlling apparatus for a washing machine, and a method thereof. The apparatus including: a storage unit in which an acceleration rate, an allowable maximum unbalance amount and an allowable minimum unbalance amount according to an amount of laundry are pre-stored; and a controlling unit for repeatedly controlling an operation of increasing and decreasing a Rotation Per Minute (RPM) of a motor of the washing machine in a region between the acceptable maximum unbalance amount and the acceptable minimum unbalance amount until an unbalance amount detected is less than the acceptable minimum unbalance amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Bon-Kwon Koo
  • Patent number: 7743480
    Abstract: Disclosed is a drum-type washing machine having a tub provided therein for storing wash water with an improved structure, the tub including a center tub formed in a hollow cylindrical form for rotatably providing a drum therein; and a back tub including a base plate for covering a rear side of the center tub, a first bending part bent backward from an outline of the base plate, and overlapped on an inner surface of the center tub, and a second bending part bent frontward from the first bending part, and overlapped on an outer circumferential surface of the center tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Je Park, Kwang Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 7707671
    Abstract: A spin cycle controlling apparatus for a washing machine includes a storage unit in which an acceleration rate, an allowable maximum unbalance amount and an allowable minimum unbalance amount according to an amount of laundry are pre-stored; and a controlling unit for repeatedly controlling an operation of increasing and decreasing revolutions per minute (RPM) in a region between the allowable maximum unbalance amount and the allowable minimum unbalance amount until an unbalance amount detected is less than the allowable minimum unbalance amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Bon-Kwon Koo
  • Patent number: 7669267
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method of controlling a ball balancer of a washing machine. The method includes variously setting sensing time corresponding to a plurality of water temperature ranges to detect an unbalanced mass, detecting imbalance of laundry and a laundry volume based on a water temperature, which is measured in real time, and the preset sensing time when an optional dehydration mode starts and performing a dehydration process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Doo Young Ryu, Ja Young Kim
  • Patent number: 7614263
    Abstract: A drum washing machine having a foldable door includes a cabinet having an opening formed at a front wall of the cabinet, the foldable door provided at the front wall of the cabinet to open or close the opening, and which is separated into frames that fold when the foldable door is opened, and an opening/closing guide mechanism connected between the foldable door and the cabinet to guide the foldable door when the foldable door is being opened or closed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Won Kim, Young Il Chang
  • Patent number: 7607326
    Abstract: A drum type washing machine including a tub installed in a cabinet is disclosed. The drum type washing machine includes a drum performing washing, a motor rotating the drum, bearing housings having bearings to support a rotation shaft, a suspension connected to the bearing housings and the cabinet to mitigate vibration generated during rotation of the drum, a bracket installed to the bearing housings to form the rear side of the tub, and a gasket installed between the bracket and the tub to seal the tub and to prevent vibration from being transmitted from the bracket to the tub. Volumes of the tub and the drum can be easily increased without increasing the volume of the cabinet. Even when the volume of the washing machine is changed, only one of the tub and the bearing housings, which is not applicable to the drum type washing machine having the changed washing capacity, is selectively replaced. Thus parts can commonly used in various drum type washing machine having different volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Won Chang, Hee Tae Lim, Si Moon Jeon, Kyeong Hwan Kim, Hyun Seok Seo
  • Patent number: 7600403
    Abstract: A washing machine includes a tub fixedly installed in a cabinet, a drum rotatably installed in the tub for containing laundry and provided with an opening formed through the outer circumferential surface thereof so that the laundry is taken into and out of the drum through the opening. A drum door is provided at the opening of the drum and moves in the circumferential direction of the drum relative to the drum to open and close the opening of the drum. A driving unit rotates the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jae won Chang
  • Patent number: 7596973
    Abstract: Structure of driving unit in a drum type washing machine including a tub mounted inside of a cabinet, a drum mounted inside of the tub, a shaft connected to the drum mounted inside of the tub for transmission of a driving force from a motor to the drum, a front bearing and a rear bearing mounted on an outer circumference of the shaft at opposite end portions thereof respectively, a bearing housing built in a central portion of a rear wall of the tub for supporting the front bearing, a rotor composing the motor together with the rotor, and coupled to the rear end portion of the shaft, a stator fixed to the tub rear wall inward of the rotor to compose the motor together with the rotor, a connector serration coupled to the outer circumference of the shaft in front of the rear bearing and fixed to the rotor, for transmission of a rotating power from the rotor to the shaft, and a bearing bracket fixed to the rear wall of the tub to cover an outside of the rotor and support the rear bearing, thereby reducing noise,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Kyum Kim, Ho Cheol Kwon, Jong A Park, Kang Mo Choi
  • Patent number: 7591155
    Abstract: A drum type washing machine comprises: a cabinet forming an outer appearance of the washing machine; a tub fixed inside the cabinet for storing the washing water; a drum disposed in the tub and having both side surfaces supported by the cabinet to be rotatable and an inlet through which laundries come in/go out on a circumferential surface thereof; and a driving motor fixed on one side surface of the drum to rotate the drum. Therefore, washing capacity can be increased as maintaining entire size of the washing machine by increasing a diameter of the drum without increasing size of the cabinet, and entire size of the washing machine can be compacted by minimizing installation space of the driving motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jae Won Chang
  • Patent number: 7584633
    Abstract: A spray type drum washing machine including a tub mounted in a cabinet, and adapted to contain wash water therein, a circulation line connected between a portion of the tub and another portion of the tub to circulate wash water through the tub, a pump installed at the circulation line, and adapted to forcibly feed wash water through the circulation line for the circulation of the wash water through the tub, and an atomizing device provided at the circulation line, and adapted to atomize the wash water fed through the circulation line, whereby the wash water to circulate through the tub is supplied in an atomized state into the tub. The wash water can rapidly permeate clothes contained in the drum, so that it can more effectively come into contact with contaminants attached to the clothes. As a result, it is possible to achieve an enhancement in washing and rinsing performances while reducing the consumption of wash water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Woong Kim, Kyung Chul Woo, Soo Young Oh, Si Moon Jeon
  • Patent number: 7581412
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tilted drum type washing machine, in which an internal structure is improved to prevent a contact between a drum and a lip of a gasket. The present invention includes a cabinet having an entrance at a front side for inputting/outputting a laundry, a door opening/closing the entrance, a tub installed slant in the cabinet to hold water, a drum in the tub to hold a detergent and the water, a gasket between the door and the tub, the gasket bringing the door airtight to prevent the water from leaking outside, a lip on an inner circumference of the gasket to prevent particles from being put in a space between the tub and the drum, and a support member preventing the lip from drooping to prevent an interruption between the lip and the drum. And, the support member includes a reinforcement rib on an inner circumference of the tub to support an inner lateral side of the lip or a protrusion at the inner lateral side of the lip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jong Seok Kim, Yang Hwan No, Han Ki Cho, Yeon Su Jung, Jung Hoon Kang, Myung Sik Park, Young Hoon Ha
  • Patent number: 7574879
    Abstract: A drum washing machine includes a cabinet forming an external housing of the washing machine, and a tub is installed in the cabinet for containing washing water. A drum is rotatably installed in the tub. A circulation pump pumps the washing water in the tub and resupplies the washing water to the inside of the drum and at least one circulation hose provides a circulation path between the circulation pump and the tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae won Chang, Hee Tae Lim
  • Patent number: 7571625
    Abstract: Disclosed is a drum type washing machine comprising: a cabinet for forming an appearance; a tub fixed to an inner side of the cabinet and for storing washing water; a drum rotatably arranged in the tub for washing and dehydrating laundry; and a driving motor positioned at a rear side of the drum for generating a driving force by which the drum is rotated. The washing machine can increase washing capacity with maintaining an entire size thereof by increasing a diameter of the drum without increasing a size of the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jae-Won Chang
  • Patent number: 7568366
    Abstract: A drum type washing machine including a tub installed in a cabinet is disclosed. The drum type washing machine includes a drum performing washing, a motor rotating the drum, bearing housings having bearings to support a rotation shaft, a suspension connected to the bearing housings and the cabinet to mitigate vibration generated during rotation of the drum, a bracket installed to the bearing housings to form the rear side of the tub, and a gasket installed between the bracket and the tub to seal the tub and to prevent vibration from being transmitted from the bracket to the tub. Volumes of the tub and the drum can be easily increased without increasing the volume of the cabinet. Even when the volume of the washing machine is changed, only one of the tub and the bearing is housings, which is not applicable to the drum type washing machine having the changed washing capacity, is selectively replaced. Thus parts can commonly used in various drum type washing machine having different volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Won Chang, Hee Tae Lim, Si Moon Jeon, Kyeong Hwan Kim, Hyun Seok Seo
  • Patent number: 7567857
    Abstract: This invention relates to a control unit for an unbalanced mass adjusting device in a vibration generator, in particular in a soil compaction machine, having an adjusting cylinder which is hydraulically adjustable to adjust a relative position of contrarotating unbalanced masses in the vibration generator, having a control valve to adjust the adjusting cylinder so that the vibration behavior of the vibration generator is adjusted and having a control unit for triggering the control valve according to a pulse width modulation signal to adjust the relative position of the unbalanced masses as a function of the pulse duty factor of the pulse width modulation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: BOMAG GmbH
    Inventor: Niels Laugwitz
  • Patent number: 7565823
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a frictional damper, especially for cylinder washing machines with spin cycle, having a housing (2) and a movable plunger (4) which is arranged in the housing (2) parallel to the housing longitudinal axis, is led out of the housing (2) and is provided with at least one window (6) at its end located in the housing (2), at least one mounting part (7), movable longitudinally relative to the plunger (4), for mounting a friction lining (8, 9) and at least one amplitude-dependent impact element (15, 16) for braking the movement of the mounting part (7) being provided in the window (6), this frictional damper being characterized in that the impact element (15, 16) is arranged between an inner surface (20, 21) of the window (6) and an outer surface (18, 19) of the mounting part (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2009
    Assignee: AWECO Appliance Systems GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Gerold Dillmann, Kurt Wallerstorfer, Ba Loc Nguyen
  • Patent number: 7536882
    Abstract: A drum type washing machine is provided, in which vibration is efficiently attenuated, by a maximum capacity within a size-fixed cabinet is provided, and by which a user does not bend over or sit down to load laundry into the washing machine. The drum type washing machine includes a cabinet forming an exterior of the drum type washing machine, a tub fixed within the cabinet, the tub having a laundry loading entrance at an outer circumference of the tub, a drum rotatably provided within the tub, the drum having an opening on a lateral side of the drum to communicate with the laundry loading entrance of the tub, a motor assembly provided next to one side of the drum to rotate the drum, and a suspension assembly provided to support a weight of the drum and attenuate vibration of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Na Eun Kim, Jin Woong Kim, Young Hwan Park, Jae Won Chang
  • Patent number: 7533548
    Abstract: Disclosed is a drum type washing machine comprising: a cabinet for forming an appearance; a tub fixed to an inner side of the cabinet and for storing washing water; a drum rotatably arranged in the tub for washing and dehydrating laundry; and a driving motor positioned at a rear side of the drum for generating a driving force by which the drum is rotated. The washing machine can increase washing capacity with maintaining an entire size thereof by increasing a diameter of the drum without increasing a size of the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jae-Won Chang
  • Patent number: 7531148
    Abstract: A two-tube centrifuge separates light material and heavy material from an input mixture. A hollow drive shaft rotates a central body member about an axis of rotation. Two hollow arm assemblies, each having circular cross-section, are mounted on diametrically opposite sides of the central body. Each arm assembly includes an outer housing tube, an intermediate tube, and an inner tube that is longer than the intermediate tube. An end cap having a removable plug is mounted on the outer end of the housing-tube of each arm assembly. The inner ends of all three tubes are mechanically interlocked in a manner to cantilever mount the inner and intermediate tubes to the central-body with their outer ends spaced from the internal surface of the end cap. An input-mixture path extends through the hollow drive shaft, through the central-body, and into a cylindrical space between the inner and intermediate tubes of each arm assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: ERTH Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Cornay, Ernest Peter Tovani, Gary Matzen
  • Patent number: 7530243
    Abstract: A drum type washing machine includes a housing; a rotary drum having a substantially horizontal or slanted rotational axis; a water tub, suspended in the housing, for accommodating therein the rotary drum; a controller for controlling an operation of the washing machine; and a displacement detecting unit disposed between the water tub and a base portion of the housing, for detecting displacement of the water tub. The displacement detecting unit has a primary coil wound around a bobbin; a first secondary coil without overlapping the primary coil and a second secondary coil overlapping the primary coil, the first and the second secondary coils being wound coaxially with the primary coil; and a magnetic body vertically movable inside the bobbin corresponding to a displacement of the water tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Haruo Matsushima, Takashi Komatsu, Shigeru Matsuo, Toyotsugu Matsukura
  • Patent number: 7530244
    Abstract: A drum type washing machine includes a housing; a water tub unit accommodated in the housing; a vibration damper, a lower portion thereof being fixed at a base portion of the housing; and a displacement detecting unit for detecting displacement of the water tub unit, the displacement detecting unit being disposed between the water tub unit and the base portion of the housing. The vibration damper supports the water tub unit at a position closer to a front side of the housing than the center of gravity of the water tub unit, and the displacement detecting unit is positioned closer to a rear side of the housing than the vibration damper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tadashi Inuzuka, Tsuyoshi Fukuda, Takashi Komatsu
  • Patent number: 7520145
    Abstract: A washing machine combined with a dryer is provided. In the washing machine combined with a dryer, a tub is provided, a dryer duct is installed outside of the tub to introduce a surrounding air into the tub, a heater is installed in the dryer duct to apply heat to the surrounding air, a temperature sensor is installed in the dryer duct to measure temperature inside the tub or temperature inside the dryer duct, and a dryer fan is installed in the dryer duct to draw in the surrounding air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Sog Kie Hong, Young Hwan Park
  • Patent number: 7520147
    Abstract: Anchorage device for fastening a counterweight to a washing machine tub comprising: an hollow shell (1) in which a concrete ballast mass (2) is adapted to be poured, said shell (1) being provided with fastening housings (3), and threaded fastening means (4) adapted to cooperate with the fastening housings (3) in order to secure the shell (1) to a washing machine tub (5). The fastening housings (3) comprise expansion cavities (6) shaped so as to define an equivalent diameter (7), the threaded fastening means (4) comprise a head (8) integrally provided with a flange adapted to engage the tub (5) and a shank adapted to be screwed into the expansion cavities (6), said shank comprising a self-tapping thread portion (9) having a crest diameter (10) and a root diameter (11) and a not-threaded pin portion (12) having a pin portion diameter (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventor: Fabio Poloni
  • Patent number: 7509825
    Abstract: Provided herein is an automatic balancing device for counterbalancing an out-of-balance mass present in a rotating body. The automatic balancing device includes a chamber with an outer wall and an axis, first and second counterbalancing masses constrained to move freely in a circular path about the axis within the chamber, and a viscous fluid provided in the chamber so as to provide viscous coupling between the outer wall of the chamber and each of the counterbalancing masses. The counterbalancing masses may be arranged so that the first counterbalancing mass leads the second counterbalancing mass when the device is in use. A constraint may be provided with the device so as to prevent the first counterbalancing mass from leading the second counterbalancing mass by more than substantially 180°.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2009
    Assignee: Dyson Technology Limited
    Inventor: David Michael Jones
  • Patent number: 7490495
    Abstract: A drum washing machine includes a cabinet with an opening formed at a front wall of the cabinet to allow laundry to be put into or taken out of the cabinet, a door to open or close the opening of the cabinet, an opening/closing guide mechanism connected between the cabinet and the door to guide the door downwardly when opening the door such that a front surface of the door is directed upwardly when the door is fully opened, and to guide the door upwardly when closing the door, and an automatic opening/closing mechanism to automatically move the door vertically, and thus, to automatically open/close the door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Dong Won Kim
  • Patent number: 7490489
    Abstract: A drum type washing machine includes a tub for holding water. A motor is secured to one side of the tub, and the motor has a stator and a rotor. A stator fastening part is disposed between an inner surface and an outer surface of the tub to secure the stator of the motor thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gon Kim, Chi Wan Hur, Yu Beom Kang, Sang Man Je, Kang Mo Choi, Jae Kyum Kim, Ho Cheol Kwon
  • Patent number: 7490496
    Abstract: A drum washing machine has a cabinet including an opening formed at a front wall of the cabinet to allow laundry to be put into or taken out of the cabinet, a door to open or close the opening of the cabinet, and an opening/closing guide mechanism connected between the cabinet and the door to guide the door downwardly when opening the door such that a front surface of the door is upwardly directed, and to guide the door upwardly moved when closing the door such that the door is vertically openable and closable. The door of the drum washing machine can be easily opened even where the washing machine is installed in a limited space. The door can also be used as a laundry holder in an opened state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Won Kim, Jae Won Chang
  • Patent number: 7490490
    Abstract: The present invention provides a drum type washing machine capable of adequately distributing the laundry articles along the inner circumferential wall of the drum at the start-up of the dehydrating operation with high probability, thereby reducing the start-up time of the dehydration. In an embodiment of the present invention, the drum is controlled to rotate at a constant speed 50 r.p.m. to agitate the laundry articles (Step S12), and the drum speed is almost continuously monitored. If the change in the speed does not exceed 1.5 r.p.m. for 0.5 second (Steps S13 through S16), the laundry articles are loosened and easy to distribute. Therefore, the drum speed is raised to 80 r.p.m. (Steps S17 and S18). If the eccentric load detected at this speed does not exceed a predetermined value (Steps S19 and S20), the laundry articles are adequately distributed along and pressed onto the inner circumferential wall of the drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Hirasawa, Tomonari Kawaguchi
  • Patent number: 7484258
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for detecting a laundry weight of a washing machine can correctly detect a laundry weight of a washing machine. To this end, a motor of a washing machine is driven at a first speed and then at a second speed, and a laundry weight is detected on the basis of a value of a first current for driving the motor at the first speed and a value of a second current for driving the motor at the second speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Tae-Kyoung Kim, Soon-Bae Yang, Kwan-Yuhl Cho
  • Patent number: 7481083
    Abstract: A drum type washing and drying machine includes a rotary drum provided with drum perforations on the cylindrical surface thereof, a water tub elastically supported in a main body of the machine, for accommodating the rotary drum, a blower unit for circulating air into the rotary drum, a heating unit for heating the air to be circulated into the rotary drum, an air flow passage for directing air, which has been exhausted from the rotary drum into a space between the water tub and the rotary drum through the drum perforations, to the blower unit, a heat exchanging member installed in the air flow passage, and a cooling water supply unit for supplying cooling water to the heat-exchanging member. The heat-exchanging member is slantingly disposed in the air flow passage and has an upper and a lower surface and to form an approximately U-shaped heat exchanging path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Habu, Koji Nakai, Takahiro Inoue
  • Patent number: 7478546
    Abstract: Drum type washing machine including a tub of plastic having a wall for holding washing water therein and mounting a driving part thereon, a drum rotatably arranged inside of the tub, a shaft passed through the tub and connected to the drum for transmission of a driving power from a motor to the drum, at least one bearing for supporting the shaft, a bearing housing having a sleeve form of bearing supporting part, and a stator fastening part extended in a radial direction from the bearing supporting part, wherein both of the bearing supporting part and the stator fastening part are inserted in a tub rear wall, while stator fastening holes in the stator fastening part are exposed, a rotor engaged to a rear end part of the shaft to form the motor together with the stator, and the stator mounted on the stator fastening part of the bearing housing with fastening members on an inner side of the rotor to form the motor together with the rotor, wherein the stator includes an annular helical type core having multiple l
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Gon Kim, Chi Wan Hur, Yu Beom Kang, Sang Man Je, Kang Mo Choi, Jae Kyum Kim, Ho Cheol Kwon
  • Patent number: 7478547
    Abstract: A drum washing machine including a cylindrical drum, a DC brushless motor directly connected to the drum, a current detector detecting current flowing through the motor, a torque control vector-controlling the motor on the basis of the current detected by the current detector so that motor torque becomes optimum at least in a wash or dehydration operation, and a laundry weight estimator accelerating the motor with a maximum output torque developed when determining that motor speed is between a first speed at which laundry is assumed to start falling from an uppermost part of inner periphery of the drum when motor speed is reduced from a high speed side and a second speed at which laundry is assumed to start sticking to an uppermost part of the inner periphery of the drum, estimating laundry weight according to a q-axis current value in the vector control during an accelerating period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignees: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Toshiba Ha Products Co., Ltd., Toshiba Consumer Marketing Corporation
    Inventors: Yoji Okazaki, Tsuyoshi Hosoito
  • Patent number: 7475574
    Abstract: A washing machine comprises a tank for loading washing fluid and items to be washed and a control adapted to carry out a predetermined washing program. The washing machine comprises a first electrode electrically insulated from the washing fluid and a sensor connected to the first electrode for detecting a value of a sensor formed by the first electrode and by the washing fluid acting as a second electrode, the value being fed to the control in order to control and/or adjust the washing program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Dieter Grimm, Robert Huettner
  • Publication number: 20090007600
    Abstract: Front-loading clothes washing machine comprising a washing tub, a rotating drum contained in said tub and provided with an access opening and a rear wall, a plurality of internally hollow lifting ribs, as they are generally known as such in the art, arranged inside the drum, and provided internally with a respective partition wall, which is in the shape of a substantially planar quadrangle, a side of which coincides with the common side of the inclined walls of the lifting rib, while the opposite side lies on the inner surface of said drum in a roughly intermediate position between said walls. Said partition wall divides the inner volume of the respective lifting rib into two chambers that do not communicate with each other, and each one of said inclined walls is provided with at least a first respective aperture and a plurality of respective perforations adapted to let the respective one of said chambers communicate with the inner volume of the drum.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS CORPORATION N.V.
    Inventors: Silvano Cimetta, Flavio Noviello
  • Patent number: 7454927
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for recovering non-aqueous wash fluid and rinse fluid from a non-aqueous fabric laundering process. The method includes removing particulates, separating the rinse fluid from the wash fluid, removing dissolved soils, and removing insoluble soils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Joel A. Luckman, Tremitchell L. Wright
  • Patent number: 7454930
    Abstract: A drum-type washing machine is provided, by which a rotational speed of a drum is stably and accurately controlled during washing and dewatering by adopting a simple induction motor and a set of unidirectional bearings acing as a clutch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Hee Tae Lim
  • Patent number: 7451626
    Abstract: Disclosed is a drum-type washing machine having a tub provided therein for storing wash water with an improved structure, the tub including a center tub formed in a hollow cylindrical form for rotatably providing a drum therein; and a back tub including a base plate for covering a rear side of the center tub, a first bending part bent backward from an outline of the base plate, and overlapped on an inner surface of the center tub, and a second bending part bent frontward from the first bending part, and overlapped on an outer circumferential surface of the center tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 18, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sam Je Park, Kwang Soo Kim
  • Publication number: 20080264112
    Abstract: The present invention relates to washing machines, and more particularly, to a washing machine having a venting device (100) for making a tub (64) therein in communication with an outside of the washing machine, with noise leakage preventive means provided thereto. For this, a washing machine of the present inventions includes a tub (64) in a cabinet (52), a venting unit (100) for making the tub (64) to be in communication with an outside of the cabinet (52), and sound insulation means in the venting unit (100) for blocking noise from leaking from the tub (64) to the outside of the cabinet (52).
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 25, 2006
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Inventors: Ji Chang Son, Kang Mo Choi, Hyung Wook Chu, Woong Kil Cha
  • Patent number: 7441421
    Abstract: A motor for a washing machine has a stator secured to one side of a tub which holds washing water and a rotor disposed on an outer side of the stator. The stator includes a core and an insulator that holds the core, and the insulator has a fastening part with a fastening hole formed on the insulator. A fastener fastens the stator to the one side of the tub using the fastening hole formed on the insulator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Gon Kim, Chi Wan Hur, Yu Beom Kang, Sang Man Je, Kang Mo Choi, Jae Kyum Kim, Ho Cheol Kwon
  • Patent number: 7430885
    Abstract: A drum type washing machine includes a housing, a rotary drum, a water tub accommodating the rotary drum therein, a door for opening and closing a housing opening for allowing laundry to be loaded into or unloaded from the rotary drum therethrough, a water tub opening communicating with the housing opening, a rotary drum opening communicating with the housing opening and the water tub opening; and an elastic connection member for connecting the housing opening and water tub opening, and having a portion that makes a pressurized contact with the door when the door is closed. A center of the housing opening is displaced upward with respect to a center of the rotary drum opening, and an angle of inclination of the housing opening with respect to a vertical plane is set to be greater than that of the rotary drum opening with respect to the vertical plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Satoshi Maeda, Hiroshi Kajihara, Kazunori Maeda, Tadashi Inuzuka
  • Patent number: 7428832
    Abstract: A drum washing machine having improved dehydrating performance is disclosed. The drum washing machine includes a tub with an opened front side, a drum rotatably provided in the tub, and an overflow controller provided in the tub, preventing water from flowing to the front of the tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jong A Park
  • Patent number: 7428830
    Abstract: A washing machine includes a rotary drum, a water tub, a supporting metallic part, a washing machine base, a motor, a controller, and a vibration detecting unit. The vibration detecting unit, inclusive of a differential transformer having a plurality of coils and a magnetic body, is disposed between the supporting metallic part and the washing machine base and detects a vibration of the water tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Toyotsugu Matsukura, Takashi Komatsu, Shigeru Matsuo
  • Patent number: 7412852
    Abstract: The present invention provides a washer, damper thereof, and control method thereof, by which noise is reduced by adjusting a damping force of the damper in a manner of turning on/off power of the damper according to an oscillation frequency of a vibrating body such as a washer. The control method reduces noise by supplying power to a damper in an excessive vibration state of a vibrating body such as a washer or by cutting off the power supplied to the damper in a normal vibration state of the vibrating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Gwan Ryong Park, Si Moon Jeon, Seung Chul Park, Jae Hyun Kim, Cha Seung Jun, Soo Young Oh
  • Patent number: 7398663
    Abstract: A drum-type washing machine having a self-balancing outer tub assembly is provided by which balance of the outer tub assembly is maintained while the drum is rotated, without the use of a separately installed counterbalance for the front part of the tub assembly. The outer tub assembly includes a front outer tub having an open front and rear; and a rear outer tub having a closed end and an open end coupled to the front outer tub. The front outer tub is formed of a material having a specific gravity higher than that of the rear outer tub and/or has a thickness greater than that of the rear outer tub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Seong Jin Jo
  • Patent number: 7398662
    Abstract: A gasket and drum washing machine using the same. The washing machine includes a cabinet having a first opening through which a laundry is put in the cabinet, a tub installed in the cabinet to have a second opening corresponding to the first opening, a drum installed in the tub to have a third opening corresponding to the second opening, and a gasket for preventing leakage of water. The gasket includes a leakage preventing part having one end connected to a rim of the first opening and the other end connected to a rim of the second opening to prevent water leakage, a deformation preventing part connected to the leakage preventing part, and a laundry-stuck preventing part provided on an inner circumference of the leakage preventing part to prevent the laundry from being stuck between the second and third openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2003
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Kyum Kim, Ho Cheol Kwon, Kang Mo Choi
  • Patent number: RE40732
    Abstract: Method for controlling washing during spinning in a tilt-type washing machine for attenuation of vibration, including (a) a main rotation step for exerting a centrifugal force to the laundry gathered to a center of the inner tub for spreading the laundry to an inside wall of the inner tub before the water discharging step, (b) a laundry disentangle alternately rotating step for alternately rotating the inner tub for a preset times to disentangle the laundry spread to the inside wall of the inner tub, and (c) a supplementary rotating step for rotating the inner tub at a preset RPM to keep the laundry in the tilted inner tub spread evenly during the water discharge step, or alternatively (a) a laundry disentangle alternately rotating step for alternately rotating the inner tub to eliminate the eccentricity of the laundry in the inner tub before the water discharge step, and (b) a determining step either for carrying out a control pattern to eliminate the eccentricity of the laundry if the eccentricity of the la
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Si Moon Jeon, Young Hwan Park, Oh Hun Kwon, Kyung Hwan Kim, Dong Won Kim, Tae Hee Lee
  • Patent number: RE40856
    Abstract: Structure of a driving unit in a drum type washing machine including a tub for storing washing water, a drum of a metal rotatably mounted inside of the tub disposed horizontal to the ground, or with an angle to the ground for accommodating laundry therein, a shaft connected to the drum mounted inside of the tub through the tub for transmission of a driving force of the motor to the drum, bearings fitted onto outer circumferences of both end portions of the shaft for supporting the shaft, a bearing housing having stator fastening bosses at fixed intervals along a circumference of a central portion thereof for supporting the bearings, a stator having a plurality of magnetic cores each formed by stacking magnetic laminations each having a salient pole projected outward in a radial direction and a rib projected inward in a radial direction, both of which are formed as one unit, frames of insulating material for covering top and bottom surfaces of a magnetic core assembly of the magnetic cores, and coils each woun
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kwang Soo Kim, Jae Mun Kim
  • Patent number: RE41621
    Abstract: Structure of a driving unit in a drum type washing machine including a tub for storing washing water, a drum of a metal rotatably mounted inside of the tub disposed horizontal to the ground, or with an angle to the ground for accommodating laundry therein, a shaft connected to the drum mounted inside of the tub through the tub for transmission of a driving force of the motor to the drum, bearings fitted onto outer circumferences of both end portions of the shaft for supporting the shaft, a bearing housing having stator fastening bosses at fixed intervals along a circumference of a central portion thereof for supporting the bearings, a stator having a plurality of magnetic cores each formed by stacking magnetic laminations each having a salient pole projected outward in a radial direction and a rib projected inward in a radial direction, both of which are formed as one unit, frames of insulating material for covering top and bottom surfaces of a magnetic core assembly of the magnetic cores, and coils each woun
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Kwang Soo Kim, Jae Mun Kim